On the 8th December 1919, 10 month old, Herbert arrived at the Port of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada with his parents. They had departed from the Port of St. John’s, Newfoundland, and travelled on board S.S. ‘Rosalind.’ His father, Gilbert Batten, 22, a Cable Operator. Mother, Jessie Winifred Batten, 20. The family were protestant.

On the 26th September 1925, 6 year old, Herbert departed from the Port of Cristobal, Colon, Panama with his mother & brothers.They travelled 2nd Class, on the S.S. ‘Oropesa’ of the Pacific Steam Navigation Company.Their destination was the Port of Liverpool. They were to stay at ‘Asiel’ Queens Avenue, Whitehall, Ramsgate, Kent. His mother, Jessie, 25, brother, Harold Royston Batten, 3, and brother, Arthur Douglas Batten, 1.

On the 5th July 1929, at the Port of Cristobal, Panama, 10 year old, Herbert embarked the S.S. Oropesa with his mother & brothers, as 2nd Class passengers. Their permanent residence was at Canal Zone. They were contracted to land at the Port of Liverpool. His mother, Jessie, 29, his brothers Harold, 7 & Arthur, 5. They were to stay at Queen’s Avenue, Ramsgate, Kent.

On the 8th April 1936, at the Port of Liverpool, 17 year old, Herbert embarked the S.S. ‘Oropesa’ with his parents & brothers. They were contracted to land at Colon, Panama and return to their home. His father, Gilbert, 29, an Operator, his mother, Jessie, 26, his brothers, Harold, 14, and Arthur, 11. ‘Asiel’ Queens Avenue, Whitehall, Ramsgate, Kent was the home of Herbert’s maternal grandparents.

20th October 1943

Aircraft: Lancaster II; serial number: DS725; code: KO-F; base: Little Snoring, Norfolk. mission: Leipzig. DS725 took-off at 18:17hrs as part of Bomber Command’s first serious bombing raid on Leipzig, Saxony. The terrible weather made the bombing very scatted, and returning airman described the weather conditions as appalling. 16 Lancaster’s were lost from the 358 Lancaster’s that set off on the mission. DS725 is believed to have come down near Engersen. The 8 crew members were killed.